Franglais:
And what? 25cwt on the back?
What was the payload of a Scarab?
Any advantage to using one on coal? I can`t see one.
There were two visually similar versions of the Scammell Mechanical Horse, One for a three ton payload and the other for a six ton payload. The difference being a larger engine and an uprated Scammell coupling.
The advantage of the Mechanical Horse over a rigid lorry was its ability to turn through 360 degress in 19 feet with the common 16ft long trailer attached . This would be useful in streets of back to back housing doing coal deliveries.
The disadvantage was that unlike Dobbin, who was really its direct competitor, the driver had to return to the cab to move on up the street, whereas a whistle and Dobbin would come on as bidded.
Youngs Brewery in Wandsworth continued to use Shire horses for local deliveries until it closed down in 2006